Duties: For the dogs, each day includes walks in all kinds of weather, nap time, calm music, and a special enrichment activity. Train (basic commands) and socialize the dogs. Clean up after the dogs and help staff care for them as needed. Requires handling of soiled items. Possibly take dogs to off-site events, on excursions, or staycations.

Qualifications: Must be able to interact with dogs of various sizes, shapes, breeds, and training levels. Prior understanding of dog behavior and dog handling skills are preferred, but not necessary.

Training: Dog Enrichment Program training is mandatory (2 hours).  Followed by buddy walks.

Times Needed:  Times needed are flexible but we ask for a two hour, weekly commitment between the hours of 9 am and 5 pm. Due to the time it takes to complete the training, we ask for a 6 month commitment from the DEP volunteers.

Duties: Provide human companionship, interactive playtime and socialization to help the cats cope with shelter life and the disruption of their daily routines. Clean up after the cats and help staff care for them as needed. Requires handling of soiled items.

Qualifications: Must be 18 years or greater. Must be able to interact with the cats. Basic understanding of cat behavior and cat handing skills.

Training: In order to work with the animals, training is mandatory and often happens as you work alongside another volunteer.

Times Needed: Daily, afternoons preferred

Duties: Sometimes animals with special needs are placed in foster homes where they can receive more appropriate care than in the shelter. This could include animals with medical or behavioral issues, or pregnant or nursing mothers. Other times, animals simply need a break from the shelter setting and can use the extra attention from a foster caregiver.

Qualifications: Must have an approved foster home application. Most criteria will depend on the individual foster care need.

Times Needed: Short term care (1-7 days) to Long-term care (up to 3 months).

Directions to Volunteer: Please complete a foster home application found here on our Fostering page.  We will send out messages about foster care needs. Please respond to a message if you can help.

Duties: Assist staff members during adoption hours: greet the families, bring the animals to the families, pack up the adoptions bags and anything else staff members need. When there is down time you can help with photography, laundry, clean, fill water bowls, socialize with the animals, etc.

Qualifications: Able to work with the public.

Training: In order to work with the animals, training is mandatory and often happens as you work alongside another volunteer.

Times Needed: Thursdays 3-7 pm, Fridays 3-7 pm, and Saturdays 2-6 pm

Duties: Clean and sanitize shelter housing areas for animals. Feed animals and provide clean water. Be aware for behavioral and medical needs.

Qualifications:

Training: In order to work around the animals, training is mandatory and often happens as you work alongside another volunteer.

Times Needed: Daily, 8:00 am – 10:00 am

Duties: Provide lunch for staff members on extremely busy clinic days and possibly for other events. During the BENCHS Outreach Clinic (BOC) days, staff members are extremely busy providing spay/neuter services to other area rescues. On these days, they have limited time for lunch so it we ask volunteers to provide a lunch (including a vegan option) for 12 people. You would just need to drop the food off at the shelter. We have plates and utensils. Staff members provide their own beverages.

Qualifications: Volunteers must have a way to transport the meal to the shelter and then come pick up their pans, etc. later on.

Times Needed: Dates vary according to the BOC calendar. Lunch needs to be delivered by 11:00 am that day.

Duties: Volunteers run errands for the shelter: purchase supplies, pick up donations, and collect money from donation jars at various businesses in the Mankato area. Volunteers must record locations visited on a shared Google Spreadsheet.

Qualifications: Must meet with the Volunteer Coordinator about this opportunity. Must be at least 18 years old and have a valid driver’s license. You would need to provide your own reliable personal vehicle and be capable of doing heavy lifting as needed.

Times Needed: One day per week, approximately 2 hours; possibly last minute opportunities

Duties: Transport pets to and from vet appointments. Vet clinics might be here in Mankato or as far away as the Twin Cities. Pets typically need to be dropped off at the vet by 8 am and they get picked up by 4 pm, but it depends on which veterinary service we are using.

Qualifications: Must be at least 18 years old, have a valid driver’s license and a reliable personal vehicle.

Times Needed: On call, weekdays.

Duties: Doing various outside and/or inside work for the organization. Outside: groundskeeping, gardening, hauling cans to recycling, etc. Inside: plumbing, painting, heavy work, carpentry, etc.

Qualifications: BENCHS has some tools and equipment, but at times you will need to use your own. Some specialized skills will be required for certain tasks.

Times Needed: The shelter would like a list of handymen and handywomen to call when needs arise.

BENCHS often supports groups of volunteers. Activities may include painting, building maintenance, yard work, laundry, dishes, cleaning, office work, and other projects that benefit BENCHS and its animals. Short-term volunteers do not work with the animals because of the training needed. Groups should be no smaller than 3 people and no larger than 10.

If you are the leader of a group and would like to set up a special volunteer session, just email our Volunteer Coordinator at volunteerplanner@benchs.org and we can set something up for you.

The BENCHS Board of Directors is a group of dedicated individuals who volunteer their time to help advance the mission of BENCHS and advocate for the organization. We are currently a working board with the goal of transitioning to a governing board after the onboarding of an Executive Director. The Board focuses on organizational governance and strategic planning, while supporting the staff of BENCHS in the operation of the organization.

If you are interested in joining the Board of Directors or the Advisory Board, please contact Kristin Dauk, Board President, at media@benchs.org.

Duties:  BENCHS engages volunteers in four main committees:

1. Executive Committee: This committee is comprised of the Board President, Vice President, and Treasurer.
2. Governance: Taking the lead in everything related to board development: ie., orientation, creating/maintaining board materials, evaluating the board’s performance.
3. Internal Affairs: Oversees all things operational and financial ~ handling anything that directly influences the organization’s ability to fulfill its mission: ie., overseeing financial details, personnel, buildings and facilities.
4. External Affairs: Handles anything outside of the organization: fundraising, donors, marketing, communications, and public relations.

Qualifications: Committee members must be able to attend regular meetings and help with outreach events and activities when possible. Volunteers should be outgoing and enjoy interacting with the public.

Times Needed: Meeting schedules are yet to be determined.